We are aware of the important role the voluntary youth sector plays in providing services to young people and wish to include them in the development and delivery of the Connexions Service. National voluntary youth organisation officers are participants in many of the working groups set up in my department to help to develop the service and we have produced a leaflet for voluntary and community organisations encouraging their participation. Those areas currently piloting Connexions have been asked to involve voluntary and community organisations and the guidance we are developing for Connexions Partnerships will make it clear that they should be involved in planning, development and delivery of the new service.